Pakora sauce is one of the most popular Indian sauces. If you have heard of this Indian dip before, you'll know that there are a couple of versions for delicious pakora sauce recipes.
These include red pakora sauce, pink sauce (also known as Scottish pink pakora sauce) and green pakora sauce.
Although they all vary in colour, they all taste fabulous in their own way. I consider a pakora sauce the ultimate flavour enhancer.
Hence, it's no surprise that a pakora sauce recipe is often seen as a side dish to entrées, canapés and popular traditional Indian starters.
For instance, you can use it as a sauce to a paneer tikka recipe or pair it with an Indian roast leg of lamb. In addition, you can even dip your naan, roti or kerala paratha into it.
Still, the most popular version of sauce is the red pakora sauce! What's more, this red pakora sauce is often served with Indian rice crackers or crisps.
Just think of the last time you enjoyed poppadoms, which is a thin Indian crisp. I guarantee you, that they were served with this sauce. Enjoy learning the basics of Indian cuisine!
how to make pakora sauce
- pestle and mortar - you'll need this if you'll make the mint sauce from scratch
- roti maker - if you are making fresh pakora sauce then why not serve it with fresh rotis
- set of curry dishes - if you are planning to serve your Indian dinner in a true Indian fashion
- curry spice kit - when you feel like adding extra Indian flavours
- pakora mix - if you are really pressed with time
easy pakora sauce recipe
A pakora sauce recipe is one of the essential recipes of Indian cuisine. One would think that making it is complicated, however, that couldn't be further from the truth.
This is because the sauce is made up of only four ingredients, unlike making a korma curry paste or curry base sauce from scratch, which usually involves a lot more ingredients.
In either case, the same principle applies when making your own red pakora sauce from scratch. Forget the stuff you purchase in the supermarket.
Who knows what types of additives, food colourants and food preservatives are in them? Always go for the fresh stuff, I say! Or at least, opt for the organic stuff when in doubt.
This pakora sauce calls for ketchup, yoghurt, mint sauce and chilli powder. As you can see, it really is an easy recipe. Just mix the right amounts, and boom - you've got a rocking Indian dip which you've made completely by yourself.
Since the sauce is really tasty, it disappears rather quickly. So, I recommend making a large batch. The pakora sauce stores quite well in the fridge, which is at least for a couple of days.
Hence, if you are expecting to serve this at your next occasion to your guests, make a larger batch. Everyone loves homemade Indian sauce!
what is pakora sauce called?
As mentioned above, there are different versions of pakora sauce as well as names. For example, Scottish pink pakora sauce or Glasgow pink pakora sauce.
However, no one knows when the sauce actually originated or how it got its name.
Apparently, the sauce was invented in the UK by the minorities which migrated from the Indian sub-continent. It is considered a British-Indian recipe because it's a mishmash of both cultures.
This Indian sauce is much like a korma curry, which also hasn't originated in India either. A korma curry was adapted to fit the taste buds of Britons, who didn't respond so well with extremely hot Indian curries. So, a creamy and sweeter curry was invented instead.
green pakora sauce
Sometimes, green pakora sauce is practically just a mint sauce or a mint chutney. Other times, it is also made with spinach, garlic and onions as it still will retain its vibrant green colour.
The intention of the sauce remains the same, and that is for it to act as a dip.
pakora sauce without mint
My version of the sauce involves a little bit of mint sauce. Still, the colour remains unchanged and continues to be a beautiful red.
If you, however, don't appreciate mint so much, you can omit it completely. Instead of mint, you can opt for adding a little bit of lime juice or lemon juice.
Watch out however for the consistency though. If you add a liquid element, you will have to reduce the amount of water you stir in later.
In some ways, depending on which type of pakora sauce you prepare, you'll end up with a Marie Rose sauce!
vegan pakora sauce
To make a pink sauce, oftentimes yogurt is added. The white yoghurt mixed with the ketchup makes a gorgeous pink dipping sauce.
However, if you are a vegan, then you can omit the yoghurt and add any of the following:
- vegan cream or vegan yoghurt
- a touch of coconut milk
- hint of almond milk
- nutritional yeast flakes
Indian dipping sauce recipes
Actually, think of a pakora sauce as a substitute for an Indian chutney. If you would like to have more variations of dipping sauces for Indian-themed dinner, take a look at these below:
- runner bean chutney
- cucumber raita
- coconut chutney a.k.a nariyal ki chutney
- coriander chutney a.k.a dhania ki chutney
With what would you serve a pakora sauce with? Let me know.
Print📖 Recipe
Pakora Sauce
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
Description
Try making this delicious and easy red pakora sauce recipe. It is one of the most popular sauces served with Indian side dishes like naans, rotis & keralas.
Ingredients
- 120ml (8 tbsp) plain yogurt
- 60ml (4 tbsp) tomato ketchup
- 5ml (1 tsp) mint sauce
- 2.5ml (½ tsp) chilli powder [optional]
Instructions
- Stir all the ingredients together and season to taste. Enjoy with bhajis and pakora!
Notes
A vegan and dairy free pakora sauce is also available if you want a sharper tang. Just mix the following ingredients together: 120ml (8 tbsp) tomato ketchup, 30ml (2 tbsp) white vinegar, 10ml (2 tsp) mint sauce, 15ml (1 tbsp) water, 2.5ml (½ tsp) chilli powder [optional]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Sauces
- Method: No Cook
- Cuisine: Indian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 60ml (4 tbsp)
- Calories: 55
- Sugar: 5.4 g
- Sodium: 172.5 mg
- Fat: 1.8 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 3.2 g
- Cholesterol: 4.6 mg
Amy Stevens says
Onion Bhajis for dipping
ADEINNE TONNER says
For me personally it has to be nan bread i love dipping it
Tammy Neal says
I love the yoghurt mint dip it's delicious x
meryl thomas says
I love dipping chapatis
Samantha says
I love dipping popodams
Emily Fowler says
I love dipping veg pakora into a vegan green chutney with lots of chilli, mint, and coriander.
A.E. ADKINS says
Veggie pakora or meat samosas are both great for dipping
Angela Kelly says
I love to dip poppadums into a mild chutney.
RobynS says
Onion bhajis straight from the fryer so they're crisp and delicious!
Phil Darling says
Pakora in a spicy dipping sauce does it for me guys
Gaynor Vincent says
I love to dip a popadom into lime chutney
Sheri Darby says
Naan Bread
Margaret Mccaffery says
Vegetable samosas are my favourite dipping food.
Melanie Pugh says
we love a paratha or a pashwari naan, totally delicious!!
Sarah McCaffery says
My favourite Indian food for dipping is an onion bhaji.
Angela Macdonald says
I love a cucumber and mint raita, but also love mango chutney
Mark Mccaffery says
For me it would have to be a vegetable samosa .
Marie Rungapadiachy says
Definitely a Paratha, which is so perfect for dipping into sauce.
Mandy Betts says
It has to be mango chutney
Lynn Neal says
Oniom bhajis and vegetable pakora!
Fiona jk42 says
I like to dip my samosas in a sweet chutney, usually a banana-tamarind chutney which is very quick to make and a great way to use over-ripe bananas.
Victoria Prince says
Vegetable samosas are great for dipping in my opinion! (Hope that's what you're asking...it's how I read it but I'm confused by the comments now)
Lynne Jarman says
I love dipping naan bread
Adrian Bold says
My favourite Indian food to dip Dhaniye Ki Chutney
Carole Nott says
I love sweet chutney dips
Maurice Haigh says
chapattis
Mark R says
My favourite Indian dipping food would be dipping garlic naan into mango chutney
Heather Haigh says
I love to dip a pappadom
Jane Willis says
Must try this sauce - I have to confess I usually just stir some bottled mint sauce into plain yoghurt. I love to dip onion bhajis in it.
jo liddement says
I love peshwari naan bread to mop up the sauce
Margaret Gallagher says
Mango cutney - - the flvours are delicious
claire woods says
mango chutney.
Michelle Smith says
Mango chutney
Andrea Upton says
I like poppadoms or Naan Bread
Christine Sunter says
I like mango chutney (home made) and raita for dipping.
Jo F says
I love mango chutney
Romilly Snowden says
Onion bhajis
Dale Dow says
Naan bread, I could dip them in anything and they would still be more-ish
Irene Gilmour says
mango chutney
Lisa Rickard says
I LOVE PARATHAS
Samantha M says
I love dipping a veggie samosa or pakora.
Emma Walton says
I guess I would have to say popadoms and onion baji's but I love nan breads and roti - I just love all indian food!
Melissa Lee says
I love dipping veggie samosas and also really love chapatis
Jodie Green says
onion bhajis are my favourite
Sadiyya Maryam says
A spicy green chilli, mint and coriander yogurt dip.
Keith Hunt says
Cucumber and mint raita
Ruth Harwood says
love dipping naan bread into a gorgeous tikka sauce xx
Laura Pritchard says
I love to dip Bhakri
Rachel Taylor says
I love mopping up the last of a good hot vindaloo with a naan bread! Yummy
cat says
Pakora in a spicy tangy Tamarind dipping sauce
Shital Sapariya says
My favourite indian food to dip is Aloo pakoras!
Susan Lloyd says
I love onion bhajis
Ritchie Dee says
Vegetable samosas
Mel Pennie says
Love a good onion bhaji for dipping, in either Yogurt & Mint Sauce, or a delicious mango chutney.
pete c says
still learning about and practising cooking with Indian food so my present answer would be naan breads!
Sheena Batey says
A balti sauce
Iain maciver says
a huge favourite here mango chutney
cheryl hadfield says
I love dipping Onion Bhajis
sharon martin says
i like a Mint and Coriander Dip
Gretta Barley says
I love that you provide these amazing recipes. I hate the jar stuff x
Qaisar Muhamed says
I love this sauce. Just like my mom used to make it!!
Terrance McDaniel says
Thank you for this recipe it's exactly what I was looking for.
Solange says
I love mango chutney.
Sj Dc says
Might sound cliche..but I love good samosas to mop up any indian curry/sauce..the crust of the samosas is such a great carrier for heavy curries...